FAQs — Tabby Weaving Studio

Analog Studio
Our Analog Studio uses traditional harness floor looms, operated entirely by hand and foot.

Weavers physically thread the loom and use foot pedals (called treadles) to raise and lower sets of threads in a specific sequence, which is how a pattern is built row by row.

It's tactile, mechanical, and rooted in centuries-old weaving techniques.

Digital Studio
Our new Digital Studio features a TC2 loom and a Compudobby loom, which use computer-assisted technology to control the pattern-making process.

Instead of manually operating treadles, weavers design their patterns using software, and the loom uses that digital file to automatically lift the correct threads in sequence.

This opens the door to far more complex, intricate, or large-scale patterns that would be difficult (or take much longer) to weave by hand, while the actual weaving itself is still a hands-on, physical process.

Residency Schedule

Weaving 101 or Project Based: Natural Dye Residents:
Monday - Thursday, Instruction occurs from 9A-3P.
Kimberly is on call until 5P. These hours are very flexible, and with proactive planning, can be modified to what’s best for the resident + instructor.

Independent Resident:
Your schedule is completely up to you.💋

Resident Plus-ones

We are open to having a partner join you for your residency should you choose. Please communicate any plus-one prior to residency dates.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate children or animals on-site.

Do I bring my own yarn?

We keep a generous, ever-changing stash of yarn in stock, and every resident thus far has found more than enough material to choose from. That said, because our supply is consumable and shared, we can't guarantee or reserve specific materials ahead of time. If you have a particular project in mind, we recommend bringing your own yarn or shipping materials to us ahead of your stay (we're happy to receive and store them for you).

We recommend local shopping at Earth Guild + Black Mountain Yarn Shop if you don’t find what you are looking for in our supply.

Prefer to travel light? Come empty-handed and plan to use our supply, free of charge.

Can I dye onsite?

Yes! We have a very bare-bones outdoor dye kitchen (that is currently not covered). For the health of the animals + humans that live on the property, we do not use any chemical dyes.
Please only plan to use natural dyes.

If you are not a Project-Based: Natural Dye resident, please bring your own dye material including mordants and tannins.

If you would like to use some of the walnuts harvested from our property, send an email ahead of time or note it on your application and we can likely accommodate this request.

I want to weave on the TC2 but have no prior experience; can I still apply?

Yes, however, we are prioritizing residents with some familiarity with the TC2 loom during our first digital season (2027).

If you’d like to go deeper / have a more flexible schedule, we highly recommend Praxis Digital Weaving Lab’s online lectures by Cathryn Amedei.

We plan to offer an introductory workshop in the spring for TC2 file design.

Subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming details

Do you offer a rate decrease for residents who stay off-site/local commute?

For Analog Studio Residents, not at this time. The Analog Studio is inside the residency apartment.

For Digital Residents, we are open to discussion. Although, this would mean using a shared bathroom / kitchen and having limited studio hours.

If interested, email us: hello@tabbystudiownc.com

What is my Residency Fee?

The cost of a Tabby residency is on a sliding tiered scale and differs per program. Residents self-select their sliding scale tier.

Tier 1

Offered below cost and available to only a few weavers each season.

Unemployed / underemployed; unstable housing; difficulty affording housing, food, healthcare, and / or other basic needs; one or more dependents; no generational wealth; no / limited expendable income; substantial debt

Tier 2

Covers the core expenses of the residency.

Reliably employed; comfortable housing; regularly meets basic needs but occasionally seeks support; has access to savings; able to buy art materials / consumables semi-regularly

Tier 3

Sustains and strengthens Tabby’s programming for the future.

Has disposable income; comfortable meeting basic needs including housing, food, healthcare; little to no debt; access to generational wealth; access to savings

Weaving 101 - Analog Studio:
T1 - $650/wk
T2 - $900/wk
T3 - $1150/wk

Independent - Analog Studio:

T1 - $450/wk
T2 - $550/wk
T3 - $650/wk

Project-Based:
Natural Dye Dblwv: Two-Week Program, Material cost included.

T1 - $1300
T2 - $1700
T3 - $2100

Independent - Digital Studio:Compudobby
(with full access to Analog Studio)
T1 - $600/wk
T2 - $700/wk
T3 - $800/wk

TC2 Loom
(with full access to Analog Studio)
T1 - $850/wk
T2 - $1000/wk
T3 - $1150/wk

Residency Deposit

A non-refundable, 50% deposit of your residency fee is due within a week of confirmation of your residency (notifications will be emailed by February 5, 2027).

The remaining balance is due a week before your residency begins. We send an invoice via Paypal to your email and you will receive reminders until the payment is received.

What will make my application stand out?

We're less interested in a locked-in plan than in a thoughtful one. A flexible sense of what you want to work on is welcome — what matters is that you can tell us why.

Are you continuing or building on an existing body of work? Show us!

Are you looking to pivot? Try something new? Or shift your practice in a different direction? Tell us why now, and what you're hoping the shift opens up. Either direction is fine.

What we're looking for is evidence that you've thought about it.